Identification marking machine employing heated type



P. N. BRAUN Nov. 29, 1960 IDENTIFICATION MARKING MACHINE EMPLOYING HEATED TYPE Filed Dec. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 age INVENTOR. Philip N. Braun ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1960 P. N. BRAUN 2,961,945

IDENTIFICATION MARKING MACHINE EMPLOYING HEATED TYPE Filed Dec. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Phil/b N. Braun BY JWZM/ ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1960 P. N. BRAUN 2,961,945

IDENTIFICATION MARKING MACHINE EMPLOYING HEATED TYPE ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1960 P. N. BRAUN 2,961,945

IDENTIFICATION MARKING MACHINE EMPLOYING HEATED TYPE Filed Dec. 8, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Phil/2: N. Braun BY fiMZZm/a ATTORNEY P. N. BRAUN Nov. 29, 1960 IDENTIFICATION MARKING MACHINE EMPLOYING HEATED TYPE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1958 INVENTOR.

Pfi/lljo /V. Braun ATTORNEY United IDENTIFICATION MARKING MACHINE EMPLOY- lNG HEATED TYPE This invention relates to and has as an object a new and improved machine for permanently marking garments and the like with identification indicia, and more particularly to such marking machines wherein the marking is applied to the garment or fabric by being printed thereon, the printing being effected by heated type.

The invention has as an object a marking machine of the type referred to embodying a novel structural arrangement of the type and type heating means, the latter being located in juxtaposition to the print line, whereby the selected type members are heated only in the area of the print line.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 with the machine being shown in an operative position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the machine.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the opposite side of the machine to that shown in Figures 2 and 3, and

Figure 6 is a plan view with parts broken away and parts in section for purposes of clarity.

Briefly described, this invention comprises a marking machine including a housing in which a plurality of segmented arcuate type wheels are mounted for oscillation about an axis for positioning selected type characters at a print line. A heating iron is mounted in the machine at the print line and the type wheels are positioned for movement over the heating iron in heat exchanging relation thereto. The type segments are formed of a thin material having a relatively high conductivity and suitable identification indicia or characters are formed in the segments as by embossing, or the like.

A thermally responsive supply of printing tape is supported in the machine and means is provided for feeding or advancing the tape across the print line. A garment supporting platen is mounted in the machine for movement to and from the print line whereby to move the garment or material against the tape and the latter against the selected heated type for printing on the material. The tape feed means is operable to feed a fresh portion of the printing tape in juxtaposition to the print line with each successive movement of the garment platen. The machine further includes power assist means for urging the garment platen into printing engagement with the type at the print line for a predetermined period of time and under a predetermined pressure.

wigs Fatent Referring to Figure l, the machine is made up of a housing having a bottom 10, side panels 12 and 14, rear wall 15, and a top closure 16. The forward portion of the side panels 12 and 14 is also provided with a closure member 18. A plurality of supporting feet 20 are carried by and depend from the bottom 10 of the housing. Mounted on the forward end of the top closure 16 by means of a pair of slotted arms 22, 24 and a cross shaft 26 received in the arms is a roll of thermally responsive printing tape 28 to be used for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Mounted interiorly of the housing, as best seen in Figure 2, is a frame structure including a pair of upstanding legs 30 and a pair of upstanding legs 32. The two sets of legs 30 and 32 are aflixed in spaced apart relation by' a pair of upper cross braces 34. Suitable transversely extending cross pieces 38 and 40 are afiixed to the lower ends of the upstanding legs 30 and 32 and serve to fix said legs in spaced apart relation.

Heating iron 42' is mounted in any suitable manner between the upper ends of the legs 32 and is supplied with a heating element 44 and a thermally responsive switch 46 whereby the temperature of the iron 42 may be controlled. A plurality of segmented type wheels, generally indicated at 48, are mounted on a cross shaft 50. carried between the upper cross pieces 34.

The type wheels 48 comprise a pair of transversely extending arms 52 and 56 affixed together at their center portions. Fixed to the outer ends of the arms 52 and 56 is a thin arcuate type segment 58 formed of a material having a high head conductivity such as brass, or the like. A semi-circular segment 60 is affixed to the opposite ends of the cross arms 52 to counterbalance the type segment 58 and the opposite end of cross arm 56 is fixed to the semi-circular piece 60 intermediate its ends, see Figure 2. Adjacent the end of the cross arm 52 to which the type segment 58 and the counterbalance piece 60 are fixed is a radially extending finger tab grip 62 which extends through a suitable arcuate slot formed in the top closure 16.

The type Wheels 48 are mounted for oscillation on the cross shaft 50 and the outer ends of the cross shaft 50 which extend through the arms 34 are received in a pair of upstanding channel members 64 and 66, carried by the side walls 12 and 14 of the housing. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the type segments 58 pass over the face of the heating iron 42 in heat exchanging relation with the iron for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The top closure 16 is provided adjacent the slots through which the finger tabs 62 extend with scales which are formed with indicia similar to the indicia formed on the type segments 58 and the scales are calibrated whereby the position of the finger tab 62 adjacent the scale will indicate the indicia on the particular segment 58 which is positioned centrally of the face of the heating iron 42. It will be understood that in this manner the plurality of type wheels 48 carried in the housing maybe selectively positioned with respect to the heating iron 42 to present a type line in juxtaposition to the face of the heating iron 42 and the indicia forming this print line may be changed at will by the operator of the machine.

Suitable detent mechanism including a detent arm 70 pivoted about pivot point 72 having a finger 74 engaging the portion 60 of the type wheel 48 is positioned in the rear of the housing to insure that the plurality of type wheels are stopped in the correct position with the identification indicia formed on the-type segments 58 in alignment in order to present a print line to the face of the heating iron 42. This detent mechanism may be of the type disclosed in the patent to Petermann et aL,

, 3 2,598,438, issued on May 27, 1952. As will be obvious, upon removal of the top closure 16 the entire type wheel mechanism may be removed from the housing by sliding the cross shaft 50 upwardly out of the upstanding channel members 64 and 66.

Mounted in the forward portion of the housing on the base 10 is a frame having a base plate 80 which is removably mounted in the bottom of the housing by means of a pair of upstanding shouldered pins 82. The frame includes side walls 84 and 86 and a main cross shaft 88 is mounted between the side walls 84 and 86. Platen carrying arm 90 is fixed to the cross shaft 88 for oscillation in the frame between the side walls 84 and 86. The upper end of the arm 90 is formed with a pair of side extensions 92 and 94 which serve as handles to oscillate the arm 90. Adjacent the upper end of the arm 90 and the handles 92 and 94 is mounted a platen 96 having a resilient face 98 over which a garment 100 may be draped for movement into engagement with the tape 28, type segments 58 forming the type line, and heating iron 42.

Mounted between the inner ends of the sides 84 and 86 is a slotted L-shaped tape guide 91 which receives and guides the tape 28 over the iron 42 and in spaced relation outwardly from the iron 42. It is necessary to position and guide the tape 28 outwardly from the iron 42 in order to prevent the heat of the iron from causing the printing ink on the tape 28 from becoming fluid.

A lower idling guide roll 92 is carried on a shaft 93 mounted in the lower end of the frame between the side plates 84 and 86 and serves to guide the tape 28 through the frame as it emerges from the vertical leg of the tape guide 91.

Fixed to the outer end of the main cross shaft 88 adjacent the side plate 84 is an arm 94. The arm 94 at its outer end is pivotally connected as at 96 to a link 98 which in turn is pivotally connected as at 100 to a plate 102. The plate 102 is journaled for oscillation on a cross shaft 104 carried between the outer forward portions of the side plates 84 and 86. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft 104 for rotation therewith is a ratchet wheel 108 formed with a plurality of teeth 110. A pawl 112 is pivotally mounted on the plate 102, as at 114, and the pawl is formed with a point 116 which is urged into engagement with the teeth 110 of the ratchet wheel 108 by means of a tension spring 120. As will be obvious upon upward movement of the arm 90 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, the pawl 112 will slide over one tooth 110 of the ratchet wheel 108 and upon downward movement of the arm 90 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 2 the spring 120 will urge the point 116 of the pawl 112 into engagement with the tooth 110 on the ratchet wheel 108 thus causing a partial rotation of the shaft 104.

Referring now to Figure a friction feed wheel 124 is afiixed to cross shaft 104 intermediate the side plates 84 and 86. The tape 28, as it emerges from the horizontal leg of the tape guide 91, passes between the feed wheel 124 and an idler wheel 126 carried by a cross shaft 128. The outer ends of the cross shaft 128 are aflixed to the legs of an outwardly extending yoke 130 having its legs pivotally mounted to the frame sides as at 132. The yoke 130 is urged upwardly by means of the tension spring 133 to urge the shaft 128 and in turn the idler wheel 126 into engagement with the tape 28 and the feed wheel 124.

When the feed mechanism, previously described, causes a partial rotation of the shaft 104 the feed wheel 124 will in turn engage the tape 28 positioned between the feed wheel 124 and the idler wheel 126 and cause the tape 28 to be fed forwardly or to the left, as seen in Figure 5, out of the machine. If it is desired to manually pull the tape out of the machine, the finger portion 135 of the yoke 130 is depressed to move the yoke 130, cross shaft 128 and idler wheel 126 downwardly out of engagement with the tape 28 thus permitting the tape to be manually pulled through the machine between the feed wheel 124 and the idler wheel 126.

As will be also obvious, the tape feed mechanism just described functions on the downward or return stroke of the platen arm whereby a fresh portion of the tape 28 is fed downwardly past the iron 42 in juxtaposition with and in outwardly spaced relation to the iron to permit the next printing operation on the garment 100.

Power assist means are provided for assisting the printing operation and comprises a yoke member, generally indicated at 134 formed with a pair of forwardly extending hooks 136 and a pair of rearwardly extending legs 138 and 140. Each of the legs 138 and 140 is provided adjacent its forward end with a plate 142 having a cam slot 144 mounted on pins 146 carried by the frame sides 84 and 86. The rearward ends of the legs 138 and 140 of the yoke member 134 are fixed to a pair of pins 150 and 152 which extend outwardly from a cross block 154 carried by a fluid operated cylinder 156. The piston rod 158 of the cylinder 156 extends through block 154 and is fixed to a plate 160 mounted on the rear end wall 15 of the housing whereby upon introduction of fluid pressure into the cylinder 156 through the line 161 the cylinder 156 will move outwardly with respect to the plate 160 thus moving the legs 138 and 140 of the yoke 134 rearwardly, as viewed in Figure 2. The cylinder 156 is formed with a slotted depending ear 164 which is mounted on a rail 166 carried by a plate 168 affixed to plate 160 to guide the rearward movement of the cylinder 156.

The rearward movement of the legs 138 and 140 of the yoke member 134 causes the hooks 136 to be moved rearwardly or to the left, as viewed in Figure 2 and upwardly by reason of the movement of the cam slot 144 on the pin 146. Formed intermediate the ends of the platen arm 90 is a cross pin 170. As the arm 90 is moved upwardly toward the heating iron 42, the pin 170 is positioned to be engaged by the hooks 136 of the yoke member 134. When the cylinder 156 is actuated, in a manner next to be described, upon movement of the arm 90 into proximity with the heating iron 42, the movement of the yoke member, just described, causes the hooks 136 to engage the cross pin 170, thus moving the arm 90 and the resilient face 98 of the platen 96 inwardly into engagement with the printing tape, print line, and heating iron to effect the printing or marking operation on the garment 100, as best seen in Figure 3.

Actuation of the cylinder 156 as the arm 90 is moved into proximity to the iron 42 is effected in the following manner. Referring to Figure 5, a switch actuating arm 172 is mounted on the end of the main cross shaft 88 adjacent the side wall 86. A micro-switch 174 having an actuator 176 is mounted on the side plate 86 adjacent the arm 172. As the arm 90 is moved upwardly to the right, as viewed in Figure 5, to effect the printing operation, the arm 172 which is fixed to the shaft 88 will be rotated in a clockwise manner and will engage the actuator 176 of the micro-switch 174 when the arm 90 is moved into close proximity to the heating iron 42. The micro-switch 174 is connected in a conventional circuit and serves to energize a solenoid actuated valve to permit the introduction of fluid pressure into the cylinder 156 through the line 161.

Referring to Figure 6, a control compartment 180 is formed adjacent to the main housing and the solenoid actuated valve just described is indicated at 182 and is connected in line 161 through a pressure regulator 183 to an extended fluid pressure coupler 184. Also mounted in the control housing 180 is a timing mechanism 186. These control elements comprise part of the control circuit and serve to permit the garment to be urged into engagement with the printing tape, at the print line, for a predetermined period of time and with a predetermined pressure, whereby the desired printing operation may be effected. A suitable compression spring, not shown, is mounted in the cylinder 156 and serves to return the cylinder and yoke member 134 to their normal position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, after the printing operation has been effected. Thereupon, the operator may move the garment platen outwardly to normal rest position.

Referring now to Figure 4 wherein a portion of the heating iron 42 and one of the plurality of type segments 58 has been shown on an enlarged scale, it will be seen that the face 190 of the heating iron is formed with a curvature having a radius identical to the radius of the type segment 58, whereby the type segments engage the face 190 of the iron 42 in heat exchanging relation thereto. Formed on the type segments 58 by embossing, or any other suitable method are a plurality of identification characters, generally indicated at 192. The over-all thickness of the type segment 58 is approximately thousands of an inch and, as previously set forth, the segments 58 are formed of a material having a high heat conductivity whereby that portion of the segment in engagement with the face 190 of the heating iron is quickly heated as it is moved into engagement with the face 190. The identification indicia 192 forming the print line, suitably positioned by the detent apparatus previously described, are consequently quickly heated by the iron 42 so that, upon movement of the garment 100 and resilient face 98 of the platen 96 into engagement with the tape 28, the heat of the indicia 192 will render the printing ink sufficiently fluid in order to properly effect the desired printing operation.

As the various segments 58 are oscillated to form successive print lines having different identification indicia, these print lines will be quickly heated, as just described, so that no time lag is necessary to permit heating of the print line in order to effect the printing operation. At the same time, however, the over-all temperature of the machine is held to a minimum due to the fact that only those portions of the type segments immediately adjacent the print line are heated rather than the entire segments.

In operation, a garment is placed over the resilient face 98 of the platen 96, which is carried by the arm 90 and positioned in the rest position, shown in Figure l. The arm 90 is then grasped by the handles 92 and 94 and moved in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, toward the heating iron 42. As the arm 90 moves into close proximity to the iron 42 the arm 172 closes the micro-switch 174 which causes the hooks 136 of the yoke member 134 to engage the cross pin 170 on the arm 90 and move the garment and platen into engagement with the printing tape 28 and the print line formed by the type segments 58 to effect the printing operation, as seen in Figure 3. After the garment 100 remains in engagement with the printing tape, print line, and heating iron for the predetermined amount of time, the compression spring in the cylinder 156 functions to return the yoke member and hook 136 to its normal position, thereby permitting the arm 190 to be returned under the influence of gravity to its rest position, as seen in Figure 1.

It will be seen that by my invention I have provided a marking machine for permanently marking garments, or the like, wherein the print type are heated only at the print line.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for marking garments and the like with identification indicia comprising a housing, a plurality of segmented type wheels mounted in said housing for movement about a common axis, a heating iron mounted in the housing, said type wheels including thin arcuate type segments movable over said iron in heat exchanging relation thereto, said type segments each having a plurality of print type characters formed therein to present selected type at a print line in juxtaposition over said iron upon selective movement of said type wheels about said axis said iron forming a backing member for said type segments, a roll of printing tape coated with a thermally responsive printing medium carried by said machine, means for guiding said tape over and in outwardly spaced relation to the type at said print line, a garment platen mounted in said machine, means operable to effect relative movement between said type and said platen for imprinting on a garment supported by said platen, and tape, feed means for feeding said tape past said print line in response to said relative movement between said type and platen.

2. A machine for marking garments and the like with identification indicia comprising a housing, a plurality of segmented type wheels mounted for oscillation in said housing, a heating iron carried in said housing, means for heating said iron, said type wheels including thin arcuate type segments mounted for movement over said iron in heat exchanging relation therewith, said type seg ments having a plurality of identification indicia formed therein and combining to present a type line in juxtaposition over said iron said iron forming a backing member for said type segments, a roll of printing tape coated with a thermally responsive printing medium carried by said machine, said tape being guided over said iron in spaced relation to the type line formed by said type segments, a garment platen mounted in said machine for movement to and from said iron to effect a printing operation, a tape feed means for feeding said tape past said printing line in response to movement of said garment platen.

3. Claim 2, wherein said thin arcuate type segments are formed of a material having relatively high heat conductivity and wherein said segments engage the face of said heating iron whereby upon movement of a new portion of said segment into engagement with said iron said portion will be rapidly heated.

4. A garment marking machine comprising a frame, a garment supporting platen mounted for movement to and from a heating iron having a relatively small eifective heating face mounted in said machine, a plurality of type segments mounted in said machine in heat exchanging relation with said iron, said type segments being formed of thin arcuate strips having high conductivity and being individually movable over said heating iron said iron forming a backing member for said type segments to form a type line juxtaposed on said heating iron, a supply of thermally responsive printing tape carried by said machine, a tape guide for guiding said tape from said supply over said iron and type line in spaced relation thereto, feed means operable upon retrograde movement of said garment supporting platen to feed said tape past said type line to present a fresh printing surface of tape to said type line for each successive printing operation, and means including a reciprocating yoke member for automatically engaging and urging said garment platen into engagement with said type line when said platen is moved into proximity to said type line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,978,790 Gould Oct. 30, 1934 2,299,396 Keen Oct, 20, 1942 2,501,495 Carroll Mar. 21, 1950 2,563,513 Braun Aug. 7, 1951 2,601,826 Hunter July 1, 1952 2,844,094 Gruver July 22, 1958 UNITED sTmTas PATENT OFFICE CEBTEHQATION GF CORRECTION PatentflNoo 2,961 945 November 29 1960 4 Philip N., Braun It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected belown Column 6, line 12 after "tape" strike out the comma? lines 47 and 48 strike out said iron forming a backing member for said type segments-3 line 4% after iron said iron forming a backing member for said type segments Signed and sealed this 23rd. day of May 1961.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWI DER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

